Key Facts

• Social Security payments in June are sent on different days based on birth dates: June 17 for birthdays from the 11th to 20th, and June 24 for birthdays from the 21st to 31st.
• Individuals who started receiving benefits before May 1997 or receive both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security were paid earlier in the month.
• The staggered payment system began in 1997 to spread out payments instead of sending them all on the third day of each month.
• People born between the 1st and 10th get payments on the second Wednesday, those born 11th to 20th on the third Wednesday, and those born 21st to 31st on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
• The highest Social Security monthly payment can be $5,181, for people who earned at or above the taxable maximum most of their careers and delayed benefits until age 70.
• The average monthly payment for retired workers is about $2,071.
• Payments are based on a person’s 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for wage growth and inflation.
• Beneficiaries should know their payment date to manage their budget and wait three business days if a payment is late before contacting the Social Security Administration.